Power failure responsive cut-off valve system



C. L. WRIGHT July 30, 1957 POWER FAILURE RESPONSIVE CUT-OFF VALVE SYSTEM Filed Da e. 29, 1955 0 a W M n u a w c r V ATT),

United States POWER FAILURE RESPONSIVE CUT-OFF VAL SYSTEM This invention relates generally to electrical control apparatus and is directed particularly to an electric hydraulic valve controller.

In the operation of certain water pumping apparatus systems it is important that some means be provided whereby, in the event of failure of power by which a pump is operated, the pipe line leading from the pump be closed to prevent back flow throughthe pump and the reversal of the pump.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide an electrically operated controller for a valve located in the water line whereby upon failure of the electric current supply to a pump operating to force water through the pipe leading therefrom, the pipe control valve will be shut off immediately.

Another object of the invention is to provide a controlling mechanism which operates by electric power to maintain the flow pipe control valve open so long as electric power is uninterrupted but effects the mechanical actuation of the flow control valve to close the latter on current failure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in mechanism of the character stated, a means whereby the electric current supply to an operating motor which functions to open the flow control valve, will be cut ofi when such flow control valve is fully opened and the circuit restored when the flow control valve is closed after failure of electric current, whereby upon the restoration of the current the operating motor for the flow control valve will be set running to return the flow control valve to open position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the apparatus of the present invention connected with a flow control valve which is shown in open position, with portions of the mechanism shown in section.

Figure 2 is a detail view illustrating the flow control valve in closed position and with the pumping motor control switch closed in preparation for the starting of the pumping motor upon the restoration of the current supply.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing the numeral generally designates a pipe which may represent the flow line leading from a water pump, not shown, having an electric operating motor.

The flow line or flow pipe is shown with a flow control valve therein by which it is opened and closed.

The control valve here shown is in the form of a butterfly valve which is designated 12 and which is supported upon a suitable shaft 14 extending diametrically through the flow pipe for rotation or turning to open or closed position. The valve is here illustrated in Figure 1 as in open position and one end of the supporting shaft has secured thereto an arm 16 which carries a supporting bracket 18 on which is secured a mercury switch 20.

The numeral 22 designates a tank or receptacle containing oil or other suitable liquid which may be pumped into the cylinder 24 of a hydraulic ram which is generally designated R. As shown the cylinder 24 is suitably pivotally supported at 25 upon any suitable mounting or standard here shown as an upright member 26 and the cylinder is in relatively close proximity to the flow pipe and the flow control valve 12.

Within the cylinder is the piston 27 to which is attached one end of a piston rod 28 which extends outwardly through the adjacent end of the cylinder and is pivotally attached at its other end as at 29 to the flow control valve arm 16.

Between the piston 27 and the head of the cylinder 24, is a coil spring 39 which constantly urges movement of the piston 27 inwardly or toward the bottom of the cylinder whereby to pull the arm 16 to valve closed position.

The numeral 31 generally designates a fluid pump which may be in the form of gear pump or the like having an inlet pipe line 32 leading from the tank 22 and an outlet pipe line 33 leading to the bottom end of the ram cylinder 24.

The pump 31 has connected therewith and is operated by the electric motor 34.

The numeral 35 generally designates a solenoid controlled valve which is here illustrated as comprising a housing 36 having the two chambers 38 and 38a separated by the wall 39 in which is an opening 40.

A third chamber 41 of the solenoid valve houses electric solenoids 42 and an armature 43 which is-connected with a valve stem 44 which passes through a suitable fluid tight packing, not illustrated, into the chamber 38a and carries a plug valve 45 which enters the opening or valve seat 40 under the influence of the solenoid coils when the latter are energized, to close the fluid passage between the chambers 39 and 38a.

The chamber 38 for the solenoid valve is the receiving chamber for fluid passing from the ram cylinder 24 through the pipe line 46 which has one end connected with the cylinder 24 and its other end opening into the chamber 38 as shown and this pipe line 46 has a hand operated control valve 47 therein.

The chamber 39 of the solenoid valve has opening thereinto one end of a pipe line 48, the other end of which connects with and opens into the tank 22 and this pipe line 48 forms a return line for fluid from the ram cylinder 24.

The numeral 49 designates current conductors leading from a suitable source of supply and as shown the solenoid coils 42 are connected in series in this line while the operating motor 34 for the pump 31 is connected across the current conducting line 49 by the conductors 50 and 51 which are electrically connected with the mercury switch 20 to be put in circuit by the switch when it is turned to the proper position. In the operation of the present invention it will be assumed that the pump, not shown, for pumping Water or other liquid through the flow pipe 10 is out of operation due to current failure. Accordingly as the supply line 49 for the solenoid and pump motor 34 receive current from the same source this line will be deenergized and the coils 42 will be inactive so that the valve 35 will be open.

Undei this condition the spring 30 of the ram will force the piston 27 inwardly in the cylinder 24 and liquid will be forced from the cylinder through the valve 47,

through the solenoid valve 35 and back to the tank 22 and, the flow co' t rol valve will be in the closed posi- I r 34 will beenergized through the mercury switchltl to pump liquid from the tank 22 into the ram cylinder 24. The piston2 7 .will thus be forced outwardly against the resistance of the spring 30 and the flow control valve willbe, turned to open'position. When the valve 12 reaches the open position shown in Figure l the mercury switch 2% will interrupt the currehtflow through the lines' 50 and -51 and the electricfrnotor 34 will be stopped. However'the control coils 42 for the solenoid valve'will rema in energized so that the valve 35 will remain closed.

If the current supply now fails it will be seen that the coils42 will be deenergized and the valve 35 will open to set up an open line between the cylinder 24 and the tank 22 through the pipes 46 and 48 and the spring 30 will then forcethe piston inwardly, completing the cycle as previously explained.

In order to prevent over travel of the piston 27 and excess pressure in the cylinder 24 there has beeuprovided a means for relieving fluid pressure in the cylinder in the form of a by-pass conduit 52 leading from the cylinder 24 to the tank 22. As will be seen from Fig, 1, the conduit 52 communicates with the cylinder 24 at a point coinciding with the normal limit of travel of the piston 27. The piston 27 acts as a slide valve closing the conduitv 52 during normal operation, but upon over travel, opens the conduit 52 to bleed pressure fluid back to the tank 22 and prevent further travel ofthe piston 27.

I claim: Q 7

[1. Ida fluid pumping system, including a flow pipe having a butterfly valve within the same, a fluid pressure tank, an electricmotor driven pump, a hydraulic ram having a movable piston therein, said pump having its inlet sideconnected with said tank. and its outlet side with said ram, a housing having two adjacent chambers, a solenoid actuated valve controlling communication between said chambers, one of said chambers having connection with said ram and the other with said tank, an actuating arm for said butterfly valve operatively connected' with said piston, a bracket carried by said arm, a mercury switch carried by said arm and electrically connected in circuit with a current source for said motor and the solenoid, said switch being in circuit closing state when the butterfly valve is disposed in closed position, a coil spring opposing movement of said piston when the latter is subjected to the fluid pressure entering the rain from said pump, and a manually actuated valve interposed between the said one chamber and the ram for controlling the flow of the fluid from the ram, during movement of said piston by the expansion action of said spring, to vary the closing moment of the butterfly valve.

2. In a fluid pumping system including a flow pipe, a movable valve element controlling a flow through the pipe, an actuating arm for said valve element, a fluid pressure actuated unit including a reciprocable element operatively coupled to said actuating arm and movable in one direction under fluid pressure to open the valve element, means for reversably moving the reciprocable element to close the valve element upon exhaust of said pressure, electrical actuated means for injecting a fluid under pressure into the unit to open said valve element,

an angular bracket carried by said actuating arm, a mercury switch carried by said bracket and disposed in the circuit of said electrical means for closing said circuit when said valve element is closed, said switch acting to stop the operation of said electrical means when the valve element has reached open'position, an electrically engaged holding meansfor maintaining the fluid under pressure in said unit, said last named means being positioned in said electrical circuit for releasing the pressure upon de-energization to permit the first stated means 'to reversely move the reciprocable element to close the valve element.

3. The invention according to claim '2 wherein said electrical actuated means comprises a fluid pressure tank, a standard rising from said tank, and said fluid pressure actuated unit comprises a fluid cylinder pivoted at one end to the upper end of said standard, a piston movable in said cylinder, a rod connected to the piston and extending through the other end of the cylinder, said cylinder having an inlet and an outlet connected to said tank whereby vthe operating fluid for the unit is introduced into and exhausted from the adjacent said one end of the cylinder, and the said means for reversely moving the piston comprises a coil spring within the cylinderbetween the piston and said other end of the cylinder to forceably eject the fluid for' its. return to said tank.

4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the said electrically energized holding means comprises a biased open valve in said connection between the cylinder outlet and said tank, a reciprocable stem carried by said valve and an electric solenoid having a movable armature attached to the stem, the solenoid when energized moving the armature and stem to close the last stated valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent STATES PATENTS 2,123,039 Gannestad July 5, 1938 2,617,444 Gardner Nov. 11, 1952 2,649,114 Wittman- Aug. 18, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 493,169 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1938 757,055 Germany Apr. 10, 1952 

